During this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month at Florida State University, members of the Hispanic Latino Student Union (HLSU) believe that it’s important to talk about the impacts these events have had on their communities and investigate their lasting effects.

“It’s sending a message of isolation and of lack of compassion because it’s a disinterest in giving us opportunities that are the only way for us to succeed,” said Adriana Lopez, a junior studying psychology.

For Lopez, issues surrounding U.S. immigration go beyond policy.

“Thankfully, I was a citizen by the time all of this started happening,” Lopez said. “But my mom is not, and my whole family from my mom’s side is in the Dominican Republic. So it’s scary for me that I don’t know if I’ll have a future with her, where I can just be we were before, wake up knowing that she's there. With all this, I don't even know if that’s going to be a possibility.”

These decisions and actions involving separating families, deporting people and restricting entry affect people like Lopez now and in the long-term.

“For some of us, it’s the only way to success," said Lopez. "So seeing all these people being sent back to their countries is like cutting their future, cutting their wings so they can’t fly. I think it’s really unjust. It’s a lack of empathy and a lack of compassion.”

HLSU Director Brunella McCann discussed the importance of having a unified front, especially with the political climate today.

“The ultimate revolution is being ourselves,” McCann said. “Last year’s theme was ‘Sin Disculpas’ [‘without apologies’]. This year is ‘Con Todo’ [‘with everything’]. So not only are we unapologetic Latinx, we are with everything, with all of our intersectionalities, with all of the issues within our culture and within the community, we are Hispanic Latinx.”

The Hispanic Latinx community believes in unity when faced with adversity.

“We make such a large amount of the population and we’re still not listened to – we’re still not heard,” said Alex Fitzgerald, the vice president of the Puerto Rican Student Association.

Fitzgerald emphasized the importance of celebrating culture in times of adversity.

"Maybe we don’t have the support of the government after Hurricane Maria, or the same amount of support that was given to states like North Carolina," Fitzgerald said. "When we don’t have the government, we support each other and love each other and acknowledge each other and make ourselves heard.”

HLSU’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration is for people who feel like their voices aren’t being heard and don’t see their problems being addressed.

“The current president and his administration try to whitewash policy and decision making,” Alyssa Jonas, a third year Puerto Rican student said. “It’s important to be in spaces that work to reduce that whitewashing. With months like this, you're reminded that there are people like you, and that it’s okay, and that it’s beautiful.”